Battery capacity recovery apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A battery capacity recovery apparatus and method thereof periodically conducts discharge and recharge operations for a battery used in a wireless telephone to prevent a memory effect on the battery. The battery capacity recovery apparatus includes a control unit for controlling the system of the wireless telephone, and a voltage detecting unit for measuring a voltage condition of the battery, and outputting a signal indicative of the measured voltage condition to the control unit. A recharge detecting unit is connected to a constant voltage unit and is included in a recharge device. The recharge detecting unit detects whether or not a handset unit of the telecommunication device is connected to the recharge device, and a recovery path establishing unit is adapted to establish a path for recovering the capacity of the battery under a control of the control unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a telecommunication system, and moreparticularly, a telecommunication device having a battery capacityrecovery apparatus and method thereof.

2. Background of the Related Art

Generally, a wireless telephone, both cordless and mobile telephone,uses a radio link substituted for a cord typically used in landlinetelephones. A cordless telephone is appropriately used within ashort-distance range, such as a room, and a mobile telephone is usedwithin an intermediate or long distance range, especially when a user isat a remote location.

For such wireless telephones, one frequency or multiple frequencies maybe used. As shown in FIG. 1A, if the telephone device is a cordlesstelephone, the handset communicates with a base unit, which includes arecharge receptacle and may include a keypad and a display, connected toa landline (dotted lines). Also, one or more handsets may be used forone base unit.

If the telephone device is a mobile telephone, the cell phone wouldcommunicate with a base station via a digital communication or an analogcommunication, and the base unit includes a recharge receptacleconnected to an AC/DC converter. Further, one or more cellular phoneswould communicate with the base station.

In a conventional wireless telephone, the battery of the handset or thecellular telephone is temporarily used only when the user makes orreceives a call. After the temporary use, the battery is rendered to bein a recharge state, if the telephone is placed in the rechargereceptacle. Thus, discharge and recharge operations are repeatedlycarried out for the battery.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a relatedart wireless telephone associated with a recharge device. In the relatedart wireless telephone, the base unit includes a constant voltagegenerating unit 1 incorporated in a recharge device.

The handset or the cellular phone includes (hereinafter, collectivelyreferred to as handset unit) a recharge detecting unit 2 for detectingwhether or not a handset unit is connected to the constant voltagegenerating unit 1 of the recharge device via recharge terminals, and acontrol unit 3 for determining whether or not the handset unit isconnected to the recharge device, based on a detect signal outputtedfrom the recharge detecting unit 2, and for controlling a rechargefunction of the handset unit based on the result of the determination,and a recharge current control resistor 4 is used to control a rechargecurrent supplied to a battery 5 via the recharge terminals. The battery5 is incorporated in the handset unit and recharged with a constantvoltage supplied from the constant voltage generating unit 1.

Now, the charge operation of the related art wireless telephone havingthe above mentioned configuration will be described in detail. Where itis desired to recharge the battery 5 of the handset unit, the handsetunit is first connected to the recharge terminals of the rechargedevice. In this state, the handset unit is connected to the constantvoltage unit 1 of the recharge device, thereby causing a constantvoltage to be supplied from the constant voltage unit 1 to the handsetunit. A current is introduced into the battery 5 via the rechargecurrent control resistor 4, thereby causing the battery 5 to berecharged with a constant voltage.

The recharge detecting unit 2 incorporated in the handset unit detectswhether or not the handset unit is connected to the recharge device, andinforms the control unit 3 of the detection result. When the controlunit 3 determines, based on the information from the recharge detectingunit 2, that the handset unit is connected to the recharge device, itconducts a control for recharging the battery 5 with a constant voltagesupplied from the constant voltage generating unit 1 of the rechargedevice.

However, the above mentioned related art wireless telephone has aproblem associated with a “memory effect” of the battery 5 generated dueto the habitual use pattern of the user associated with the use of thehandset unit. For example, the user typically uses the handset of thecordless telephone after taking up the handset unit from a state inwhich the handset is laid on the recharge device (that is, a rechargestate) of the base unit. During the use, the handset is in a dischargestate. After the use of the handset, the user puts the handset on therecharge device of the base unit. Due to such a habitual use pattern ofthe user associated with the use of the handset, a memory effect isinvolved in the battery 5.

Users who have a technical knowledge about a memory effect on batteriesmay reduce, to some degree, the problem associated with the memoryeffect by appropriately controlling the use pattern for wirelesstelephones. However, most users repeat discharge and recharge operationsfor a battery without discharging the battery to a deep discharge state.For this reason, the battery has a capacity portion substantiallyunused. This capacity portion is gradually inactivated, so that itcannot be used. As a result, the battery has a reduced capacitycorresponding to the capacity portion subjected to discharge andrecharge operations. That is, a memory effect is generated. A similareffect occurs for mobile telephones when a user repeatedly recharges thebattery without fully depleting the battery.

This memory effect results in a considerable reduction in the standbytime or use time of the handset unit. The degradation resulting fromsuch a memory effect occurs more frequently, as compared to thoseresulting from other factors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

An object of the invention is to provide a battery capacity recoveryapparatus and method for periodically conducting discharge and rechargeoperations for a battery used in a wireless telephone to prevent amemory effect on the battery, thereby being capable of reducing thebattery degradation while maximizing the convenience of the user.

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides in asystem including a recharge device for recharging a battery, and anoperating device adapted to use a voltage supplied from the battery, abattery capacity recovery apparatus comprising: a control unit forcontrolling the system; a voltage detecting unit for measuring a voltagecondition of the battery, and outputting a signal indicative of themeasured voltage condition to the control unit; a recharge detectingunit connected to a constant voltage unit included in the rechargedevice, the recharge detecting unit serving to detect whether or not theoperating device is connected to the recharge device; and a recoverypath establishing unit adapted to establish a path for recovering thecapacity of the battery under a control of the control unit.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides in asystem including a recharge device for recharging a battery, and anoperating device adapted to use a voltage supplied from the battery, abattery capacity recovery method comprising the steps of: setting areference voltage for the battery; connecting the operating device tothe recharge device; detecting a voltage of the battery; determiningwhether or not an operation for recovering the capacity of the batteryis to be executed; determining whether or not the detected batteryvoltage is not less than the reference voltage; and executing a rechargeor discharge operation, based on the results of the determinations.

The battery capacity recovery apparatus and method can prevent a memoryeffect more frequently resulting in a battery degradation, as comparedto those resulting from other factors. Accordingly, it is possible toreduce the battery degradation while maximizing the convenience of theuser.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a cordless telephone system and a mobiletelephone system;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of aconventional wireless telephone associated with a recharge device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a battery capacity recoveryapparatus of a wireless telephone according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a battery capacity recoveryapparatus of a wireless telephone according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating sequential steps of a batterycapacity recovery method for a wireless telephone in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a battery capacity recovery methodassociated with the battery capacity recovery apparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a battery capacity recovery methodassociated with the battery capacity recovery apparatus of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a battery capacity recoveryapparatus of a telecommunication device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. A constant voltage generating unit 10 isincorporated in a recharge device installed in a base unit. A rechargedetecting unit 20 for detecting whether or not a handset unit isconnected to the constant voltage generating unit 1 of the rechargedevice via recharge terminals, i.e., whether or not the handset unit isin a recharge state.

A voltage detecting unit 30 measures the voltage condition of a batteryincorporated in the handset unit, and informs a control unit 40 of themeasured voltage condition. The control unit 40, which is included inthe battery capacity recovery apparatus, controls a recovery pathestablishing unit 50, based on a signal received from the voltagedetecting unit 30 and indicative of the measured voltage condition,while controlling the system of a telecommunication device to which thebattery capacity recovery apparatus is applied.

The recovery path establishing unit 50, which is also included in thebattery capacity recovery apparatus, establishes a path for recoveringthe battery under the control of the control unit 40. The recovery pathestablishing unit 50 includes a first switch 51 for establishing arecharge path between a recharge terminal and the battery via a rechargecurrent control resistor under the control of the control unit 40. Asecond switch 52 establishes a recharge path between the first switch 51and the battery under the control of the control unit 40 in order toallow a rapid recharge operation to be conducted, and a third switch 53connects the battery to the ground under the control of the control unit40, thereby establishing a forced discharge path.

The recovery path establishing unit 50 also includes an inverter 54 forcontrolling recharge and discharge operations to be conducted separatelyfrom each other under the control of the control unit 40. The inverter54 receives a control signal from the control unit 40, and transmits asignal inverted from the received control signal to the first switch 51.By virtue of this function of the inverter 54, when a recharge operationis conducted in an ON state of the first switch 51, the third switch 53is in its OFF state, thereby preventing a discharge operation from beingconducted. In an OFF state of the first switch 51, the third switch 53is in its ON state, so that the discharge operation is carried out.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a battery capacity recoveryapparatus of a telecommunication device according to another embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 3, elements respectively correspondingto those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Aconstant voltage generating unit 10 is incorporated in a recharge deviceinstalled in a base unit, a recharge detecting unit 20 detects whetheror not a handset unit is connected to the constant voltage generatingunit 1 of the recharge device via recharge terminals, i.e., whether ornot the handset unit is in a recharge state, and a voltage detectingunit 30 for measuring the voltage condition of a battery incorporated inthe handset unit, and informing a control unit 40 of the measuredvoltage condition.

The control unit 40, which is included in the battery capacity recoveryapparatus, controls the recharge function of a wireless telephone, towhich the battery capacity recovery apparatus is applied, based on theresult of the measurement conducted by the recharge detecting unit 30.The control unit 40 also controls a recovery path establishing unit 50and the system of the wireless telephone, based on a signal receivedfrom the voltage detecting unit 30 and indicative of the measuredvoltage condition.

The recovery path establishing unit 50, which is also included in thebattery capacity recovery apparatus, establishes a path for recoveringthe battery under the control of the control unit 40. The batterycapacity recovery apparatus further includes a register unit 60 forcounting the number of detection times conducted by the rechargedetecting unit 20. The register unit 60 also cumulatively stores thecounted value, and a clock unit 70 generates a reference clock for atiming control of the control unit 40. A key input unit 80 is connectedto the control unit 40 and adapted to input, to the control unit 40, keysignals for setting an initial time and the current time.

The recovery path establishing unit 50 includes a first switch 51 forestablishing a recharge path between a recharge terminal and the batteryvia a recharge current control resistor under the control of the controlunit 40. A second switch 52 establishes a recharge path between thefirst switch 51 and the battery under the control of the control unit 40in order to allow a rapid recharge operation to be conducted, and athird switch 53 connects the battery to the ground under the control ofthe control unit 40, thereby establishing a forced discharge path. Therecovery path establishing unit 50 also includes an inverter 54 havingthe same function as that of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating sequential steps of a batterycapacity recovery method for a telecommunication device, which iscarried out using the battery capacity recovery apparatus of FIG. 2 orFIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention. The handset unit isfirst connected to the recharge device installed in the base unit for arecharge of the battery (Step 41). A reference voltage is then set by aminimum voltage within a voltage range having no influence on thebattery (Step 42). When the voltage of the battery is detected (Step43), it is determined whether or not the detected battery voltage is notless than the reference voltage (Step 44).

When the battery voltage is not less than the reference voltage, theprocedure proceeds to step 45. At step 45, the first switch 51 isswitched off, thereby preventing an establishment of the recharge pathbetween the recharge terminals and the battery. Simultaneously, thethird switch 53 is switched on, thereby causing the battery to beconnected to the ground. Accordingly, the forced discharge path isestablished to allow a forced discharge operation to be conducted. Theprocedure is then returned to step 44.

On the other hand, when the battery voltage is less than the referencevoltage, the procedure proceeds to step 46. At step 46, the first switch51 is switched on, and the third switch 53 is switched off. In thisstate, the recharge path between the recharge terminals and the batteryis established. Simultaneously, the second switch 52 is switched on, andmaintained in the ON state for a predetermined period of time.Accordingly, a rapid recharge operation is conducted for thepredetermined period of time. When the battery voltage, detected afterthe procedure returns from step 45 to step 44, is less than thereference voltage, step 46 is also executed.

After the rapid recharge operation is completed for the predeterminedperiod of time, the second switch 52 is switched off, and a normalrecharge operation is conducted through the recharge path establishedvia the first switch 51 and the resistor. After completing step 46, theprocedure is ended.

The first and third switches 51 and 53 operate in an inverted fashionwith respect to each other by virtue of the inverter 54. That is, whenthe first switch 51 is in its ON state to conduct the rechargeoperation, the third switch 53 is in its OFF state. On the other hand,when the first switch 51 is in its OFF state, the third switch 53 is inits ON state to allow a discharge of the battery to be carried out.

The reference voltage, which is a minimum voltage within a voltage rangehaving no influence on the battery, is set in order to prevent thebattery from reaching a state, in which the function of the battery isdown, thereby disabling a recharge of the battery, due to an excessivedischarge of the battery.

Now, the above mentioned battery capacity recovery apparatus and methodwill be described in detail, in conjunction with respective embodimentsof the present invention. A description will be first made inconjunction with FIG. 5 which is a flow chart illustrating a batterycapacity recovery procedure associated with the battery capacityrecovery apparatus of FIG. 2.

The user first connects the handset unit to the recharge device (Step61), and then sets a reference voltage by a minimum voltage within avoltage range having no influence on the battery (Step 62). Thereafter,the user depresses a function button provided at the handset unit forthe execution of a battery capacity recovery operation, so as to allowthe battery capacity recovery apparatus to conduct the battery capacityrecovery operation.

In response to a button input, the control unit 40 then determineswhether or not the function button is depressed (Step 63). When thecontrol unit 40 determines that the function button is depressed, itthen determines whether or not the handset unit is in a recharge state,based on a detect signal received from the recharge detecting unit 20(Step 64). When the control unit 40 determines that the handset unit isin the recharge state, it is then determined whether or not the batteryvoltage detected by the voltage detecting unit 30 is not less than thereference voltage (Step 65).

When the detected battery voltage is less than the reference voltage,the control unit 40 switches on the first switch 51 and the secondswitch 52 to execute a rapid recharge mode (Step 66) for a predeterminedperiod of time, the second switch is turned off. Thereafter, in thisregular recharge mode, the battery is recharged via the recharge currentcontrol resistor because the handset unit is in a state connected to theconstant voltage generating unit 10 of the recharge device via therecharge terminals, and the first switch 51 is in its ON state.

On the other hand, where the detected battery voltage is not less thanthe reference voltage, the control unit 40 switches off the first switch51 while switching on the third switch 53, thereby executing a forceddischarge mode (Step 67). In the forced discharge mode, the control unit40 frequently checks the voltage condition of the battery, based on asignal received from the voltage detecting unit 30. If the detectedbattery voltage is reduced to be less than the reference voltage, thecontrol unit 40 switches on the first switch 51 while switching off thethird switch 53, thereby switching the operation mode from the forceddischarge mode to the rapid and/or regular recharge mode.

In the rapid recharge mode, the second the second switch 52 is switchedon, and maintained in the ON state for a predetermined period of time.Accordingly, an initial rapid recharge operation is conducted for thepredetermined period of time in order to minimize a possibleinconvenience of the user caused by a discharge of the battery.

Alternatively, forced discharge or forced recharge operations of thebattery may be carried out just after the user depresses the functionbutton for the execution of the battery capacity recovery operation(Step 68 and 69). In this case, the forced discharge operation iscarried out after completion of the recharge operation. These forceddischarge and recharge operations are carried out in the same fashion asthose of step 45 and 46.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is implemented using the function button of thekeypad 80 which can be depressed by the user. Such a configuration isbased on an assumption that may be necessary to carry out the batterycapacity recovery function once per one month in the case of batteriescurrently used.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a battery capacity recoveryprocedure associated with the battery capacity recovery apparatus ofFIG. 3. The user first connects the handset unit to the recharge device(Step 71), and then sets a reference voltage by a minimum voltage withina voltage range having no influence on the battery (Step 72).Thereafter, the user sets a reference number of recharge times and acontrol time for the execution of a battery capacity recovery operation(Steps 73 and 74).

When the user puts the handset unit on the recharge device, the controlunit 40 then determines whether or not the handset unit is connected tothe recharge device, i.e., whether or not the handset unit is in arecharge state, based on a signal received from the recharge detectingunit 20. When it is determined that the handset unit is in the rechargestate, the control unit 40 cumulatively stores the counted number ofrecharge times in the register unit 60, thereby updating the countednumber of recharge times (Step 75). Thereafter, the control unit 40determines whether or not the counted number of recharge times is notless than the reference number of recharge times (Step 76).

Where it is determined that the counted number of recharge times is notless than the reference number of recharge times, the control unit 40checks the battery voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit 30(Step 77). Following step 77, the control unit 40 determines whether ornot the current time reaches the control time for the execution of thebattery capacity recovery operation (Step 78).

The control unit 40 continuously checks the current time, based on asignal received from the clock unit 70. When the current timecorresponds to the control time, the battery capacity recovery operationis executed. On the other hand, when the current time does not reach thecontrol time, the control unit 40 is rendered to be in a standby mode.The control time may be set by a time, at which the telephone is almostunused, for example, during night time. The user may conduct setting ofthe current time and the control time, that is, the reference recoverytime, for example, when the telephone is initially installed.

Where the current time corresponds to the control time, the control unit40 determines whether or not the detected battery voltage is less thanthe reference voltage (Step 79). When the detected battery voltage isnot less than the reference voltage, the control unit 40 switches offthe first switch 51 while switching on the third switch 53, therebyconnecting the battery to the ground. As a result, the forced dischargepath is established to execute a forced discharge operation (Step 82).

The forced discharge operation is continued until the battery voltage isreduced to a level less than the reference voltage, i.e., the minimumvoltage within a voltage range having no influence on the battery. Inresponse to a reduction of the battery voltage to a level less than thereference voltage, the control unit 40 switches on the first switch 51while switching off the third switch 53, thereby establishing therecharge path between the first switch 51 and the battery. In thisstate, the second the second switch 52 is also switched on, andmaintained in the on state for a predetermined period of time.Accordingly, an initial rapid recharge operation is conducted for thepredetermined period of time.

On the other hand, when the detected battery voltage is less than thereference voltage, the control unit 40 switches on the first switch 51while switching off the third switch 53, thereby establishing therecharge path between the first switch 51 and the battery. In thisstate, the second switch 52 is also switched on, and maintained in theon state for a predetermined period of time. Accordingly, an initialrapid recharge operation is conducted for the predetermined period oftime (Step 81). After the rapid recharge operation is completed as thesecond switch 52 is switched off, a normal recharge operation isconducted through the recharge path established via the first switch 51and the resistor. After completing step 81, the procedure is ended.

Alternatively, forced discharge or forced recharge operations of thebattery may be carried out, only based on the fact that the countednumber of recharge times is not less than the reference number ofrecharge times (Step 85). Furthermore, the forced discharge and rechargeoperations may be conducted after determining whether or not the currenttime corresponds to the control time (Steps 83 and 84). In this case,the forced discharge operation is carried out after completion of therecharge operation. These forced discharge and recharge operations arecarried out in the same fashion as those of step 45 and 46, is describedwith reference to FIG. 4.

As apparent from the above description, the battery capacity recoveryapparatus of the present invention is incorporated in atelecommunication device, so that it can prevent a memory effect morefrequently resulting in a battery degradation, as compared to thoseresulting from other factors. In accordance with the battery recoveryapparatus and method of the present invention, discharge and rechargeoperations are carried out by checking signals outputted from thevoltage detecting unit and recharge detecting unit, and depressing thefunction button for the execution of a battery capacity recoveryoperation in accordance with a manipulation made by the user when theoutput signals are less than and not less than reference values,respectively. The discharge and recharge operations may be automaticallyconducted, based on the result of a comparison of the output signalswith respective reference values. Accordingly, it is possible to reducethe battery degradation while maximizing the convenience of the user.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosedfor illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatvarious modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in theaccompanying claims. Although the switches for forced discharge andrecharge operations are incorporated in the handset unit of the wirelesstelephone, they may be alternatively incorporated in the rechargedevice. The present invention may also be applied not only to atelecommunication device, but also to any devices, apparatus or systemsusing rechargeable batteries (in particular, those of the NiCd type).

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery capacity recovery apparatus,comprising: a control unit which controls at least one of a dischargingoperation and a recharging operation for a battery of an electronicdevice; a voltage detecting unit which measures a voltage condition ofthe battery and outputs a signal indicative of the measured voltagecondition to the control unit; and a recovery path establishing unitwhich establishes a path for recovering a capacity of the battery undercontrol of the control unit, wherein the control unit controls therecovery path establishing unit to establish a path for dischargingvoltage from the battery based on the measured voltage condition of thebattery.
 2. The battery capacity recovery apparatus according to claim1, wherein the recovery path establishing unit comprises: a firstrecharge switch for establishing a recharge path between rechargeterminals and a resistor for recharge current control, under a controlof the control unit; and a discharge switch for connecting the batteryto ground under control of the control unit, thereby establishing saiddischarge path.
 3. The battery capacity recovery apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the recovery path establishing unit further comprises:a second recharge switch for establishing a recharge path between thefirst recharge switch and the battery to allow a rapid rechargeoperation to be carried out.
 4. The battery capacity recovery apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the recovery path establishing unitfurther comprises: an inverter adapted to allow the first rechargeswitch and the discharge switch to be controlled in an inverted fashionwith respect to each other by the control unit.
 5. The battery capacityrecovery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a rechargedetecting unit; and a register unit for storing a value indicative of anumber of times the battery has been recharged as detected by therecharge detecting unit; and a clock unit for supplying a referenceclock to the control unit for timing control.
 6. The battery capacityrecovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unitcontrols the recovery path establishing unit to establish a path fordischarging voltage from the battery if the measured voltage conditionis greater than a reference voltage.
 7. The battery capacity recoveryapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls therecovery path establishing unit to establish a path for dischargingvoltage from the battery if the measured voltage condition is greaterthan a reference voltage and a detector detects that a function has beenactivated on the electronic device.
 8. The battery capacity recoveryapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls therecovery path establishing unit to establish a path for dischargingvoltage from the battery if the measured voltage condition is greaterthan a reference voltage and a current time equals a control time. 9.The battery capacity recovery apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controltime corresponds to a time of day.
 10. The battery capacity recoveryapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls therecovery path establishing unit to establish a path for dischargingvoltage from the battery if the measured voltage condition is greaterthan a reference voltage and a number of times the battery has beendischarged equals or exceeds a predetermined count value.
 11. Thebattery capacity recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein afterdischarging, the control unit controls the recovery path establishingunit to establish a path for recharging the battery.
 12. The batterycapacity recovery apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the recoverypath establishing unit establishes a first path which recharges thebattery at a first rate for a predetermined period of time and a secondpath which recharges the battery at a second rate after saidpredetermined period of time has expired.
 13. A telecommunication devicefor at least one of a landline network and a wireless network, whereinthe improvement comprises: a battery; a recharge detector that detects arecharge status of the telecommunication device and that generates astatus mode of the battery; a voltage detector that detects a voltagelevel of the battery and generates a voltage status of the battery; acontroller that receives the status mode and the voltage status from therecharge detector and the voltage detector, respectively, to generate afirst control signal; a first switch responsive to at least one controlsignal and coupled to a recharge terminal for receiving a chargingbattery; a resistor coupled to the first switch and the battery; and asecond switch coupled in parallel with the battery and a ground voltage,the second switch being responsive to an inverted first control signal,wherein the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turnedoff when the voltage level of the battery is below a prescribed voltagelevel for charging the battery, and the first switch is turned off andthe second switch is turn on when the voltage level of the battery isabove a prescribed voltage level to discharge the battery.
 14. Thetelecommunication device of claim 13, further comprising: a third switchcoupled in parallel with the battery and responsive to a second controlsignal from the controller, said third switch being turned on for aprescribed period of time during an ON state of the first switch suchthat the resistor is bypassed to allow a rapid recharge of the battery.